We constantly hear the names of different practices and methods, but we are unable to truly describe what they mean. We might have guesses; we can visually imagine the processes these words stand for. Nevertheless, we might not be able to understand them. This can be said about our representation of meditation. The word is often mentioned in books and TV. We know that this method has something to do with the mental and spiritualistic aspects of a human being. So what exactly is meditation and what is its purpose?

Meditation is a complex of procedures that aim to open up the mind and spirit. It has several purposes. Some people use it as a means of relaxation. Others seek to align their energies into a positive flow. Many people consider meditation a way of achieving unity, at least temporary, with a cosmic force and a channel through which knowledge reaches the human mind.

The practice of meditation is ancient. Modern-day people often associate it with Eastern traditions. Such associations are a reflection of history. Meditation was already in use in Asia in the first millennium BC. There are ancient Hindu scriptures and treatises that deal with this subject. The practice also has a significant place in Buddhism. The image of Buddha meditating under the Bodhi tree was a common theme in classical East Asian art. The practice was also performed by adherents of other Asian religions, from Jainism and Shinto. Hermetic monks that followed the traditions of Eastern Christianity had their own set of meditation procedures. Meditation made its way to Islam, and is common in the Sufi tradition. In the twentieth century the healing and soothing effects of meditation helped the practice gain popularity with the lay societies across the world.

The methods of meditation are not universal, and a variety of procedures emerged, derived from different schools. A seated, crossed-legged position is a common posture in meditation. This is how iconography portrays Buddha and other religious figures. The eyes are often kept half-closed. Some meditation practices involve chanting and praying and take place in the presence of objects such as lighted candles which, according to belief, help reach the objectives of the procedure. However, not all variations of the practice require immobility, and some people can meditate even while walking.

Major medical advances were an almost annual event during the twentieth century, and today there is some form of medicine available for just about any condition that you can think of. However, before you reach for that pill or potion, take a moment to consider the medicinal properties of meditation. Here are three medicinal uses for meditation:

1. Controlling Blood Pressure.High blood pressure has become a very common problem in recent years, and kills millions of people around the world every year. If the condition is diagnosed early enough, however, some simple dietary and lifestyle changes, together with medication, can control it.A study conducted at Harvard Medical School, and a separate study reported in the British Medical Journal, show that meditation is also extremely effective in controlling blood pressure for patients with an early diagnosis. This effect results from the fact that the state of relaxation brought on by meditation lowers the body’s response to stress hormones, in exactly the same way that blood pressure medicine does.
2. Treating Inflammatory Conditions.There are many inflammatory conditions that are either caused by stress, or in which stress plays a significant role. These include such things as asthma, arthritis and various skin conditions. In much the same way that meditation switches off the body’s stress response for people suffering from high blood pressure, it can also prevent the body from reacting to the stress that leads to inflammatory problems.Once excellent example of meditation being used to treat inflammatory conditions can be found in the results of a clinical trial carried out at McGill University in Canada. Here meditation was shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of patients suffering from psoriasis.
3. Relieving Irritable Bowel Syndrome.Irritable bowel syndrome can very unpleasant, and in many people it leads to abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and frequently to alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. It is not entirely clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, and treatment is generally aimed at reducing the symptoms of the condition, by using a range of medicines. These medicines often include antidepressants.In a study conducted at the State University of New York, however, meditation was shown to have a powerful effect in reducing symptoms for many patients, and it is now recommended for inclusion is all treatment plans for irritable bowel syndrome.

Meditation has long been seen as a very effective way to reduce stress in our lives, but it is almost always viewed in terms of our mental health, rather than our physical well being. In the twenty-first century, however, we are almost certainly going to see the increased use of meditation alongside, if not in place of, medicine.

Meditation plays an important and growing role in the lives of many millions of people today, and can trace its origins back to man’s very earliest days on Earth.

Although there is no written record, studies of prehistoric times show that religious practices were present from Paleolithic times, though the Mesolithic and Neolithic era, and into the Bronze Age. Throughout all of this time rituals, including such things as chanting, were common, and these are the very earliest examples of a rudimentary form of meditation.

The earliest written records show that meditation, as we know it today, was born out of the Hindu tradition of Vedantism, practiced some three and a half thousand years ago. Within the large body of sanskit texts from the time, known as the Vedas, we see the first signs of structured meditation being used for religious purposes.

From these early beginnings the practice of meditation spread, and was first seen in the Taoist philosophy and religious practices of China, before it returned to India, to surface within the Buddhist faith.

Meditation as we know it today has been developed from early Buddhist meditation, although the exact path that it has taken is a subject for considerable debate. Early records do however show that many different levels and forms of meditation were used in Buddhism in India, and many of these are documented in the sutras of the first century BC.

Early records also show the spread of meditation across the globe, and it is mentioned in the Vimalakirti Sutra as being of significance in the development of Zen Buddhism.

The first mention of meditation in the western world is to be found in the writings of Philo of Alexandria around the year 20BC, when he refers to spiritual exercises requiring both attention and concentration. Later, in the third century, the Greek philosopher Plotinus developed a number of different meditative techniques, and these were later built upon by Saint Augustine.

Perhaps the greatest spur to the spread of meditation, however, came through of the establishment of major trading routes, such as the Silk Road, which linked countries from Europe clear through to China and the islands of Indonesia.

More recent developments in meditation have included the revival of the Hindu schools of yoga, and the introduction of modern schools in the west, that have also sought to secularize the practice of meditation. These changes are reflected today in the widespread practice of things like transcendental meditation and what has simply become known as yoga.

Meditation is one of mankind’s oldest self-improvement strategies. As an organised practice, it has been known to exist in many forms for well over two thousand years but is suspected to have been discovered and practised for many millennia prior to its earliest recording in ancient texts.

Put simply, meditation is a form of mental self-control in which the mind, through various meditation techniques, is elevated to a high level of self-awareness. From such a state, great benefits can come. Being truly self-aware means being fully aware of our relationships with others. It enables us to make better decisions and to modify our behaviour in ways that can lead to great improvements in all spheres of daily living.

There is no single way to meditate. There are many different practices all geared to achieving the same state of increased self-awareness. One particular form of meditation may suit some people but not others. Anyone starting out shouldn’t be discouraged if their first encounter with meditation requires practising techniques that are unsuited to their lifestyle. Not everyone can sit on top of a mountain in silence for three months contemplating the nature of infinity. Nor would most people want to. They have lives to lead, mouths to feed, bills to pay and people to meet and interact with on a daily basis.

More realistic forms of meditation practice include sitting quietly and comfortably in a peaceful environment and emptying the mind of all the idle thoughts, regrets, resentments, hopes and disappointments. This is done by observing thoughts without judging them. Anyone can do this at any suitable time. Nothing else is required in the form of charms, chants, beads, beds of nails or whatever. Just by observing the rambling and distracting thoughts and emotions that come and go, a state of mind is created in which they come and go far less frequently. The mind becomes still and powerful during meditation and this state can eventually carry through to all aspects of daily life

Some organised religions and sects employ chanting as a means of mental focus during meditation, but it’s not an essential part of it; it’s just a technique that suits their purpose. Yoga is also closely tied with meditation and many people find it beneficial and enjoyable not only mentally, but also physically.

The important thing to remember about meditation is that it is its own reward. It’s enjoyable, relaxing and brings a sense of tranquility and true perspective that can greatly empower the mind.